New trekking trails open for Nepal Tourism Year-2011

[First Environmental Trekking]

Hey everybody,

This is an article I ran across today that is quite applicable to the
theme of this blog ("trekking in Nepal"), so I am re-posting it (with
the appropriate credits given to the author and publisher, of
course!)

Posted on: 2010-10-02 09:35 (NPT)

By SANGAM PRASAIN for Ekantipur News

KATHMANDU, OCT 02 -
Trekking agencies and the government have unveiled new trekking
trails and upgraded old ones for Nepal Tourism Year 2011.
The effort aims to prolong tourist stay in Nepal. Since the
trekking routes are at least seven days long, they will help to
lengthen visitor stay and increase spending in remote areas. The
response of over 132,000 visitors for trekking and mountaineering in
Nepal last year has also encouraged trekking entrepreneurs to develop
new products.
Currently, 95 percent of the 120,000 trekkers visiting Nepal
annually do not go beyond the Annapurna, Langtang or Everest regions.
Only around 6,200 trekkers venture off the beaten track.
On Sept. 27, the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN)
unveiled three trekking routes—Panch Pokhari-Bhairav Kunda in
Sindhupalchok, Dhorpatan in Baglung and Galeshwar of Myagdi—aiming to
diversify tourists to these destinations next year. Bhairav Kund will
provide experience of 10 days trekking to a shaman pilgrimage site
through its traditional villages in spectacular Himalayan landscapes
to reach the holy lake Bhairav Kund.
Panch Pokhari gives an experience 12 days that passes five holy
lakes. This area, northeast of Kathmandu, offers a combination of rich
cultural heritage, unsurpassed beauty and biological diversity. The
Galeshwar of Myagdi will give a seven-day experience to trekkers that
starts from Beni and ends in the same place. TAAN is also introducing
the Lower-Solu trekking route in the southern part of Lukla soon,
Bachhu Narayan Shrestha, first vice-president of TAAN told the Post.
Similarly, the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT), the longest and highest
alpine walking track in the world, is scheduled to be inaugurated on
Jan. 14, 2011 in Kathmandu. The NTY 2011 implementing committee
announced the launching of the trail as a new product aimed at
attracting trekkers from around the world.
Trekking entrepreneurs said that the new product would help
diversify a large number of tourists to different unexploited trekking
destinations that would benefit the mountain people with employment
and production opportunities who are isolated even though having huge
tourism prospects. Mardi Trek is another new route that tourism
entrepreneurs of Pokhara are looking to launch next year. The Mardi
Management Committee in Pokhara plans to operate Mardi Himal Trek
route explored in the Machhapuchchhre model trek area. On the other
hand, the government is also planning to launch some trekking routes
that were developed last year and are scheduled to be completed this
year.
Rabi Shah, project manager at the Tourism Infrastructure
Development Project under the Tourism Ministry, said that some new
trekking trails are in the process of being launched this year while
some of them are being improved.
The Tourism Ministry is planning to open a new trekking route
circling the Kathmandu Valley and encompassing the capital and the
neighbouring districts of Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. The route is 131 km
in length.
This circular trekking route will link the four major peaks around
the valley --Shivapuri (2,453 m), Phulchoki (2,765 m), Chandragiri
(2,522 m) and Nagarjun (2,697 m). According
to Shah, the Budhanilkantha-Nuwakot-Gosaikunda, Dhulikhel-
Nagarkot, Dakshinkali-Champagiri-Machhegaon, Nagarjun (Phoolbarigate)-
Jamacho, Chandragiri-Tistung trekking routes in Makwanpur and
Dhulikhel-Nagarkot are in progress, of which some will be launched
within 2011.
The Nepal Ecological and Tourism Awareness Front (NETAF), the
Nagar Naldum Tourism Development Committee and the Guide Association,
Kavre have recently launched a hiking route from Nagarkot to
Dhulikhel. However, Shah said that the trail was still not completed
as work remains to be done on the Sanga side.
“The government has allocated Rs. 50 million to these projects for
last year; however, the project was looking for new budget this year
to get its final touch,” Shah added.
As Nepal is well known as one of the best destinations in the
world for enjoying the real beauty of nature through trekking,
trekking entrepreneurs are hopeful that they might double the existing
number of trekkers next year.
Trekking in Nepal is an all season activity. It is possible at any
time of the year depending on where one goes. However, the most
popular seasons are spring (February-May) and autumn (September-
November).

--END OF ARTICLE--

If you are interested in being among the first to trek this new trail,
or if you are interested in other trails or more information regarding
trekking in Nepal (or Tibet, Bhutan, or India), then feel free to
contact us via any of the methods listed below. We look forward to
providing you an awesome experience during your trip to Nepal!

Mailing Address:
First Environmental Trekking (P.) Ltd.
Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
P.O.Box : 8056

Tel : + 977-1-4417343
+ 977-1- 4424346
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+977-9851022303
Fax : + 977-1-4423855

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